Stop Wishing You Had More Time. Start Using What You Have Better:

Follow these 5 time-management strategies to make more efficient use of your day.

If your life is so filled with demands that it feels impossible to accomplish everything in a 24-hour day, you may have uttered this ridiculous saying:

“I wish there were more hours in the day?”

What makes this saying ridiculous? Think about it, do you really want more hours in a day? Would you actually get more done, or would you just be even more exhausted than you already are?

It's common to feel like you don't have enough time, but as I see it, if your wishing for more hours in a day, you are looking for a quick fix to a bigger problem.

Just like other illogical sayings like "time heals all wounds" or "if I could turn back time," wishing for more hours in a day is a cop-out. It's an attempt to absolve your responsibility to manage the life/time you have been given wisely.

I realize that sounds somewhat harsh, but hear me out.

In the same way, emotional wounds cannot be healed by simply avoiding them year after year, and you cannot reverse the decisions you make today in the future; you cannot add more time to the day to get back wasted hours.

On the other hand, you can change all of the above through action. Emotional healing can come through counseling, past mistakes can be redeemed through acknowledgment and making amends, and the important things can all get done if time is managed wisely.

Therefore, a better question is, "Wouldn't it be great if we could accomplish more in the 24-hours that we have?" That's a much more empowering question because productivity results from taking action, not wishful thinking.

It requires effort and planning, but it is possible to get more done in the time you have by using time more efficiently.

Below are some simple strategies you can use to make the most of your day!

These tips will help you use your time more wisely:

Make a to-do list.

If you write down what needs to be done, you will feel less stressed about it. You can prioritize the items on your list and make a plan of action. As you complete each task, cross it off your list. Seeing your list dwindling will motivate you to get the rest of the tasks done, too.

Tip: I often use sticky notes for long-term projects and hang them on a wall where they are easy to see. On each one, write the task and the due date, then place them in order by the due date or according to priority. Once a task is completed, trash the sticky note.

Decide what is most important.

Keep a day planner or a to-do list notebook and set it where you can look at it often to stay on task. Use the following levels of urgency: Must Do, Should Do, Could Do, and If I Have Time. At the end of the workday, note what didn't get done and save it for another day.

Tip: You may find it helpful to make your list in the evening. It may even help you sleep better because you won't go to bed thinking about everything you need to do the next day.

Do the unpleasant tasks first.

Getting the things you dislike done first is a great time management strategy. The more you put them off, the longer they will be there to bother you, and the more overwhelmed you'll feel. If possible, try to schedule these tasks when you know you will have the most energy.

Tip: Schedule something fun after you finish your most dreaded tasks to motivate you to complete the list. Even giving yourself a colorful checkmark or eating your favorite treat might be enough to get it done!

Remember that procrastination is a waste of time.

When we put things off to the last possible minute, it causes stress, and the results are usually subpar, so we end up having to redo the task anyway or have to deal with the consequences of a poorly done job. Procrastination also takes up time because it requires us to waste time thinking about whether or not we should do the task, how we will do it, and what possible problems may or may not arise.

Tip: Use your morning hours wisely and get tasks started early in the day. Chances are you'll finish a lot of them before noon rather than having them drag into a second day because you ran out of time. If you find yourself procrastinating, try to take a break and then return to the task with fresh eyes. Sometimes all you need is a change of perspective to get started.

Do small tasks in 10-minute intervals.

Set a ten-minute timer and complete as many small tasks as possible. These tasks could be tidying an out-of-control area or putting away loose items. Once that's done, move on to the next task. You will be surprised how much can be done in ten minutes.

Tip: I started doing this while developing a routine for my home business. When I need a break from my desk, I will wash dishes, put on a load of laundry, or do meal prep. This method is super beneficial in three ways: one, it gets my blood circulating; two, the mindless activities let my brain wander, and often I come up with new ideas or the next direction to take whatever I was working on; and three, I can squeeze in a little more work after quitting time since some of my evening tasks are already finished.

Final Thoughts:

The gift of time can sometimes feel scarce on those days when it seems we don't have enough of it. Thankfully, we can increase our time management skills and do more daily. Improving these abilities will lower your stress levels and allow you to devote more time to the activities that make you happy, resulting in a more peaceful and satisfying life.

When it comes to time management, utilizing these practices will help you save time and get more done. Start by making a to-do list, deciding what is most important, doing the unpleasant tasks first, remembering that procrastination is a waste of time, and using small intervals. These tips will help you manage your time more efficiently and increase productivity.

With a positive attitude and a little self-discipline, you might feel you have been given more hours in a day.

Disclaimer: The article contains links to products I create and sell on Amazon. I will receive royalties for products sold at no extra cost to the reader. For more time-management tools by me, please check out my Amazon author page.